kids encyclopedia robot

High Bridge, New Jersey facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
High Bridge, New Jersey
Borough
Borough of High Bridge
High Bridge Reformed Church
High Bridge Reformed Church
Map of High Bridge in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of High Bridge in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of High Bridge, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of High Bridge, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey is located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey is located in the United States
High Bridge, New Jersey
High Bridge, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Hunterdon
Incorporated March 29, 1871 (as township)
Reincorporated February 19, 1898 (as borough)
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 2.43 sq mi (6.30 km2)
 • Land 2.39 sq mi (6.19 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)  1.65%
Area rank 378th of 565 in state
15th of 26 in county
Elevation
295 ft (90 m)
Population
 • Total 3,648
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,410
 • Rank 426th of 566 in state
16th of 26 in county
 • Density 1,526.9/sq mi (589.5/km2)
 • Density rank 334th of 566 in state
5th of 26 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08829
Area code(s) 908 Exchanges: 617, 638
FIPS code 3401931320
GNIS feature ID 0885251

High Bridge is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,648, reflecting a decline of 128 (-3.4%) from the 3,776 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 110 (-2.8%) from the 3,886 counted in the 1990 Census.

History

High Bridge NJ Main St 2012
Main Street, 2012

High Bridge was originally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 29, 1871, from portions of Clinton Township and Lebanon Township. On February 19, 1898, the borough of High Bridge was incorporated from portions of the township, with the remainder returned to Clinton and Lebanon Townships five days later.

The borough is located on the South Branch of the Raritan River in the north central part of Hunterdon County. Water from the South Branch was a valuable power source for one of the first ironworks in the United States, established in the 1740s by William Allen and Joseph Turner of Philadelphia. Allen was the mayor of Philadelphia, a Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and a prominent landowner in New Jersey. In 1859, the Central Railroad of New Jersey began a five-year construction project of a 112-foot (34 m) high, 1,300-foot (400 m) long bridge across the river from which structure the locality ultimately took its name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.431 square miles (6.297 km2), including 2.389 square miles (6.188 km2) of land and 0.042 square miles (0.109 km2) of water (1.74%). It is drained by the South Branch of the Raritan River.

High Bridge borders the Hunterdon County municipalities of Clinton Township and Lebanon Township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Jericho Hill, Pierce Heights and Silverthorn.

Climate

Climate data for High Bridge, NJ
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 37
(3)
41
(5)
50
(10)
62
(17)
72
(22)
81
(27)
85
(29)
83
(28)
77
(25)
65
(18)
54
(12)
42
(6)
62.416
(16.90)
Average low °F (°C) 19
(−7)
22
(−6)
28
(−2)
38
(3)
47
(8)
57
(14)
62
(17)
61
(16)
53
(12)
41
(5)
33
(1)
25
(−4)
40.5
(4.7)
Source: <Weather.com >

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 2,209
1890 1,935 −12.4%
1900 1,377 −28.8%
1910 1,545 12.2%
1920 1,795 16.2%
1930 1,860 3.6%
1940 1,781 −4.2%
1950 1,854 4.1%
1960 2,148 15.9%
1970 2,606 21.3%
1980 3,435 31.8%
1990 3,886 13.1%
2000 3,776 −2.8%
2010 3,648 −3.4%
2019 (est.) 3,410 −6.5%
Population sources: 1880-1920
1880-1890 1890-1910
1910-1930 1930-1990
2000 2010

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,648 people, 1,418 households, and 1,004 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,526.9 per square mile (589.5/km2). There were 1,481 housing units at an average density of 619.9 per square mile (239.3/km2)*. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.17% (3,399) White, 1.32% (48) Black or African American, 0.22% (8) Native American, 3.18% (116) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.74% (27) from other races, and 1.37% (50) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% (219) of the population.

There were 1,418 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 101.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $90,037 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,054) and the median family income was $108,148 (+/- $6,913). Males had a median income of $77,500 (+/- $10,021) versus $47,936 (+/- $5,291) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,866 (+/- $4,587). About none of families and 0.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,776 people, 1,428 households, and 1,051 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,566.0 people per square mile (604.9/km2). There were 1,478 housing units at an average density of 613.0 per square mile (236.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.24% White, 0.79% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.

There were 1,428 households, out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $68,719, and the median income for a family was $75,357. Males had a median income of $56,607 versus $35,450 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,276. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

TAYLOR IRON FORGE WORKS, HIGH BRIDGE, HUNTERDON COUNTY
Union Forge building
SOLITUDE HOUSE, HIGH BRIDGE, HUNTERDON COUNTY
Solitude House

High Bridge serves as the southern terminus of a rail trail that was created out of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch. The trail is maintained by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation and is called the Columbia Trail. The trail runs northeastward from the center of the borough (at the junction of Main Street and Church Street) towards Califon, through a scenic area outside the borough limits, known as the Ken Lockwood Gorge.

Union Forge Park is High Bridge's main public park, located across the Raritan River from Taylor Wharton. Another park is the Borough Commons, situated at the start of the Columbia Trail. A grant received by the Union Forge Heritage Association in 2008 provided for the creation of the Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway, which stretches 5+14 miles (8.4 km) around the borough, starting at Columbia Trail and connecting the borough's parks and other historic sites.

The High Bridge Hills golf course, located near Route 31, provides another means of recreation in the small town.

Transportation

2018-06-13 09 04 16 View north along Hunterdon County Route 513 (West Main Street) at Arch Street in High Bridge, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
CR 513 in High Bridge

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 21.00 miles (33.80 km) of roadways, of which 18.99 miles (30.56 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.01 miles (3.23 km) by Hunterdon County.

CR 513 is the main road that passes through and connects to Route 31 to the west. Interstate 78 is accessible via Routes 513 and 31 in neighboring Clinton Township.

Public transportation

Originally a vital junction for the Central Railroad of New Jersey in hauling iron ore from northern New Jersey via its High Bridge Branch which headed north toward Wharton and High Bridge station now serves as the westernmost station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. It is located at the southern end of the station. The parking lot for the station is located one block to the west. The station only uses the southern track for inbound and outbound trains. There is a station building that is no longer used and there are two small shelters. This station has limited weekday service and no weekend service. The station has been the western terminus of the line since 1983, the year NJ Transit commenced operations. Between 1983 and 1989, NJ Transit reached Phillipsburg, New Jersey on the former Central Railroad of New Jersey mainline. Since that time, the route between High Bridge and Phillipsburg has been inactive. NJ Transit considers making plans for bringing service back to Phillipsburg again in the future.

There is also service available between Flemington and Hampton on the Hunterdon LINK Route 15.

Points of interest

Solitude House, built circa 1710-1725, became the centerpiece of the iron plantation that became Union Forge Ironworks. Later called Taylor Iron and Steel Company, it eventually became known as Taylor-Wharton. John Penn, the last royal governor of Pennsylvania, and Benjamin Chew, the last Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, were political prisoners at Solitude House during the American Revolutionary War. Five generations of the Taylor family managed the business and continued to live in the house, until 1938. Acquired by the Borough in 2001, and previously operated as a museum, the house is currently closed due to a lease dispute. The Union Forge Heritage Association operated Solitude House Museum from 2002 to 2012.

The Taylor Steel Workers Historical Greenway, created by the Union Forge Heritage Association, connects to the Columbia Trail.

The TISCO Headquarters, constructed in 1742 for the Union Iron Works, is the oldest office building in New Jersey.

Lake Solitude dam, replacing the crib dam of 1858, replaced in 1909, is the last remaining example of a buttress dam in New Jersey, built by master engineer Frank S. Tainter.

Springside Farm, was established in 1803, by Archibald S. Taylor, as the agricultural farm of the Taylor Iron and Steel Company.

The Paul Robinson Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center.

Economy

High Bridge has a downtown (Main Street) that is home to eateries, services and professionals. Circa Restaurant, at the center of Main Street, has received acclaim from a variety of sources including a food editor from The New York Times who proclaimed, "Circa is the kind of place I wish were in my town."

The businesses are collectively marketed by the High Bridge Business Association, which assists its member businesses through co-operative advertising, press releases, goodwill and other benefits.

Education

The High Bridge School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 370 students and 38.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1. Schools in the districts (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are High Bridge Elementary School with 194 students in grades PreK - 4 and High Bridge Middle School with 178 students in grades 5 - 8.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Voorhees High School, which also serves students from Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 982 students and 83.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township who attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale.

Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from High Bridge, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with High Bridge include:

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: High Bridge (Nueva Jersey) para niños

kids search engine
High Bridge, New Jersey Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.